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Department of History Hosts "The Centennial of the Armenian Genocide"

Thu April 23, 2015

On April 22, 2015 members of the faculty from St. Lawrence University's Department of History held The Centennial of the Armenian Genocide: A Night of Commemoration in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The event took place in Atwood Hall chapel. Speakers included an Armenian-American from Massena as well as other local Armenian Americans living in the North Country.

The commemoration began with a 30-second clip from The Armenian Genocide (PBS, 2008) which focuses on the history of Armenians, the genocide itself, and denial by the Turkish state. Following the clip, several speakers participated in discussion, including 93-year-old Sebouh Bogosian, an Armenian American from Massena, whose parents were both affected by the genocide. Also speaking was Nina Melkonyan, an Armenian St. Lawrence student who spoke about her family's history. Zeynepcan Akar, a Turkish St. Lawrence student spoke of her own experience learning about the genocide in the last decade. Finally, Kelly Bartlett, an American St. Lawrence student who has done academic work on the genocide in two different classes, spoke to the audience.

The event concluded with a commemoration ceremony, including Armenian folk music, candle lighting and offering of flowers for the dead, and a benediction. Light desserts and refreshments with Armenian cultural significance were served at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The event was sponsored by the Center for International and Intercultural Studies, European Studies, and History, and was supported by the Chaplain's Office and Volunteer Services.